Adam Greenberg, CEO of iUNU“We help greenhouse growers identify and solve their problems”

Three years ago, iUNU (‘You Knew’) was started by an entrepreneur who aims to solve basic food and water problems in the world. iUNU specifically targets issues on the food side of the greenhouse industry. “As the son of a botanist, I’ve been around plants my entire life,” says Adam Greenberg, Founder and CEO of iUNU. “I’ve spent hundreds of hours talking with greenhouse growers to understand their problems. Based on the outcome of these conversations, we have developed a computer-vision based system that allows growers to see all problems in one overview.” Because the greenhouse industry is very visual, it makes it a perfect fit for a computer-vision system,” according to Greenberg.

LUNA monitors changes in plants

“Growers spend a lot of time looking at healthy plants, but this system, called LUNA, supports growers in taking a look at everything; pests, diseases, environmental threats, etc,” said Greenberg. LUNA builds detailed models of individual plants throughout the day and monitors changes in health of individual plants. A digital flagging system has been built that sends notifications to the grower. “Our role is to help growers find the problems and provide them with knowledge for proactive management.”

Digital Flagging & Task Management System

Making greenhouses more predictable

LUNA turns greenhouses into data-driven manufacturing plants; greenhouse operations become more precise, proactive and predictable. LUNA starts to hone in on the system in a way that optimizes the grower’s facility. It begins to learn and remember the moment her cameras and sensors are first installed in the greenhouse, giving growers historical records of every detail of every plant in the system, as well as live information. LUNA provides everything the grower needs to make decisions to run the business. “We are empowering growers to see and control more,” mentioned Greenberg.

Model crop and time lapse comparison

The first system was installed about 1.5 years ago and is being used in the floriculture as well as horticulture industries with lettuce and basil being examples. For tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers, the system is in the research and development stage as currently, LUNA is unable to get under the vines. Right now, iUNU services the entire US, Canada and Mexico. The technology works on a desktop, phone as well as tablet.